Detachable tongue for injected slipper, with associated slipper and boot

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a detachable tongue ( 16 ) for a slipper, with the said tongue ( 16 ) incorporating:
     one upper part ( 20 ) designed to come into contact with a tibial area and an area located opposite the talus of the user&#39;s foot;   one lower part ( 21 ) designed to come into contact with a rear part of the top of the user&#39;s foot; and   a detachable connection system ( 17 ) that connects the said tongue ( 16 ) with the slipper ( 10 ); and   a heating element ( 25 ) connected to the said lower part ( 21 ), such that the said heating element ( 25 ) can extend between a tip of the boot and the user&#39;s toes.

DOMAIN OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein pertains to a detachable tongue designed to be used with a slipper. The invention also pertains to a slipper and a boot incorporating the detachable tongue.

The invention herein pertains to the domain of footwear manufactured via injection, such as shoes, boots or any object that provides an interface between the user's foot and the floor or ground, and that adapts the morphology of a user's foot to the interior rims of the interface component. More particularly, the invention herein is intended to be used in a special boot in which the user's foot must be held securely—for instance, for doing skiing, snowboarding, water-skiing, rollerskating or rollerblading, or ice-skating.

More particularly, the invention pertains to an interface component between the user's foot and the floor or ground, in which the user's comfort is enhanced by the provision of heat to the user's foot.

PRIOR STATE OF THE ART

For the purposes of the invention, the term “slipper” refers to an interface component that maintains a user's foot and heel within a shell, while endowing comfort. The term “injected slipper” refers more particularly to a slipper incorporating at least one pocket intended to be filled with a material designed to solidify after adapting the shape of the slipper to a user's morphology.

To undertake the injection of the slipper, the user's foot is placed within the slipper, which itself is inserted into a shell. The material is injected, in its liquid phase, into the pockets of the slipper, so that the exterior walls of the slipper marry with the interior walls of the shell, and the interior walls of the slipper follow the curves of the user's foot.

The user's foot must be immobile until the solidification of the material, so as to complete the slipper injection process. After this slipper injection process, the user obtains a slipper adapted to his/her morphology, that optimally maintains his/her foot and heel while endowing comfort.

Multiple types of injected slippers currently exist, and vary in material and in form of the injection pockets. Some slippers have a fixed tongue, while others have a detachable tongue. The use of a detachable tongue enables different tongues to be proposed for one single slipper, in order to adapt the tongue to the morphology of the user's tibial part. Furthermore, these detachable tongues can be injected or otherwise.

The invention more-particularly pertains to slippers incorporating detachable tongues, because they adapt better to users' morphology. An injected slipper with a detachable tongue in accordance with the existing state of the art is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The illustration in FIG. 1 shows a slipper (10) marketed by the Applicant, made of polyurethane. The slipper (10) incorporates a sole (11) with edges from which the side panels (12 a, 12 b) and a tip (13) extend upwards. The side panels (12 a, 12 b) are stitched together at the rear of the slipper (10). At the front of the slipper (10), the side panels (12 a, 12 b) are stitched to the tip (13).

The tip (13) is designed to surround the user's foot, from the metatarsophalangeal articulation until the ends of the toes. The side panels (12 a, 12 b) are designed to surround the rear of the foot, the heel and the bottom of the peroneal region.

Two injection pockets are incorporated into each side panel (12 a, 12 b). These injection pockets are connected to inlet (14) and outlet (15) pipes. The inlet pipes (14) are designed to inject the material, whereas the outlet pipes (15) are designed to extract the material present in the pockets when the pockets are completely filled.

The bottom of the tibial area and the area located opposite the talus of the user's foot are protected by a detachable tongue (16). This tongue (16) is located within the slipper (10), and it is attached to the tip (13) by means of a detachable connection system (17) of hook-and-loop type. The tongue (16) is also constrained within the slipper (10) by means of laces (18) connecting the side panels (12 a, 12 b) in the bottom of the tibial area and the area positioned opposite the talus of the user's foot.

Thus, the tongue (16) incorporates an upper part (20) intended to come into contact with the tibial area and the area located opposite the talus of the user's foot, and a lower part (21) intended to be in contact with the top of the user's foot. The detachable connection system (17) is connected to one extremity of this lower part (21).

To enhance the comfort of use, some slippers incorporate heating elements. For example, international patent application WO 2014/30014 describes a slipper with a tongue attached to the slipper, that incorporates a heating element. Thus, the heating element in international patent application WO 2014/30014 heats the user's tibial area.

Preferably, a heating element is positioned under the foot or on the user's toes, so as to heat the user's toes. Therefore, a heating element is conventionally incorporated into the tip or into the sole of existing slippers.

However, it is commonplace to obtain an injected slipper that is of poor quality after the slipper injection process—for instance, if the user's foot moves during the solidification of the material. In this case, it is necessary to undertake a further injection of a new slipper. When a heating element is incorporated into the tip or the sole of an injected slipper, a poor-quality injection compromises the entire slipper, including the heating element.

Given the cost of a heating element, it is currently highly prejudicial to execute a poor-quality injection with an injected slipper that incorporates a heating element. The technical problem that the invention seeks to resolve is to heat the user's toes using a slipper in which a poor-quality injection does not render the heating element unusable.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein resolves this technical problem by means of a detachable tongue for slippers which incorporates a heating element that is able to extend between a tip of the slipper and the toes of the user wearing the tongue.

According to one first feature of the invention, the invention pertains to a detachable tongue for a slipper, with the said tongue incorporating:

one upper part designed to come into contact with a tibial area and one area located opposite the talus of a user's foot;

one lower part intended to come into contact with a rear part of the top of the user's foot; and

a detachable connection system that connects the said tongue to the slipper.

The invention is characterized by the fact that the said tongue also incorporates a heating element joined to the said lower part, such that the said heating element can extend between one tip of the slipper and the user's toes.

Thus, the invention heats the user's toes by means of a heating element connected to a detachable tongue, instead of being incorporated into the sole or tip of the slipper. Additionally, the detachable tongue can be detached from the slipper and be re-used if the injection of the slipper is of poor quality. Thus, the heating element is not rendered unusable in the event of a poor-quality injection.

Furthermore, the detachable tongue can adapt to multiple slippers because it is possible to replace an existing tongue with a heating tongue in accordance with the invention, if the user wants to use a heating element after a period of using the slipper with a detachable tongue not having a heating element. Furthermore, the tongue according to the invention can also fit thermo-molded slippers.

In a manner similar to detachable tongues according to the state of the art, the connection system can be separate from the heating element, and can be connected to the said lower part so as to interoperate with a complementary connection system positioned above the tip of the slipper. This positioning of the connection system above the tip reduces the feeling of confinement of the user's toes within the tip.

As a variant, a detachable connection system is connected to the said heating element, such as to interoperate with the complementary connection system positioned under the tip of the slipper.

Thus the detachable connection between the tongue and the tip can be implemented by the heating element under the upper panel of the tip.

When the connection between the tongue and the tip is implemented on the tip by a connection system that is separate from the heating element, a connection system located on the heating element can ensure the positioning of the heating element between the toes and the tip. As a variant, when the heating element does not incorporate a detachable connection system, the positioning of the user's foot within the slipper displaces the heating element so as to position it between the toes and the tip.

For example, the said detachable connection system can be a system of hook-and-tongue type, notably those marketed under the Velcro (registered trademark) brand. The heating element can be powered by an energy conversion system. As a variant, the heating element is preferably powered by an energy storage system.

According to one particular form of implementation, the said detachable tongue incorporates on energy storage system within the said detachable tongue, within the said upper part. The energy storage system can be be sized to provide a duration of usage that is sufficient for the entire working life of the tongue. In this case, when the energy storage system is empty, it is possible to replace the tongue. As a variant, the tongue can incorporate a connector connected to the energy storage system, so as to allow recharging of the energy storage system.

In another particular form of implementation, the said detachable tongue incorporates a connector positioned above one upper extremity of the said detachable tongue, plus a power supply cable extending from the said heating element to the said connector, passing through the said upper and lower parts. This connector thus enables one to connect an energy storage system that is external to the tongue. For instance, this electrical power storage system can be mounted on the shell of a ski boot.

In one particular form of implementation, the said tongue incorporates an internal pocket allowing the injection of a material that is designed to solidify. This form of implementation procures an injected tongue that is able to adapt to the morphology of the tibial area and the area situated opposite the talus of the user's foot.

In one particular form of implementation, the said tongue incorporates panels forming the said upper and lower parts, with the said panels being made of polyurethane or vinyl ethylene acetate.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the invention pertains to a slipper incorporating:

a sole with edges from which a tip and side panels extend, with the said side panels being stitched together at the rear of the said slipper, and being stitched onto the said tip at the front of the said slipper; and

a detachable tongue in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, with the said detachable tongue being connected to the slipper in a detachable manner.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the invention pertains to a slipper incorporating a shell within which a slipper in accordance with the second aspect of the invention is positioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

The manner of implementation of the invention and the advantages arising therefrom will come clearly to the fore in the form of implementation that follows—which is for information purposes and is not limitative—with the aid of the appended illustrations, in which FIGS. 1 to 3 show:

FIG. 1: an in-perspective view of an injected slipper being in accordance with the current state of the art;

FIG. 2: an in-perspective view of a detachable heating tongue being in accordance with one first form of implementation of the invention; and

FIG. 3: a partial cross-section of a slipper incorporating a detachable heating tongue being in accordance with a second form of implementation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the description that follows, the term “front” and the terms “rear” or “back” refer to the position of the tongue when it is used within a slipper. The front corresponds to the front of the slipper, namely the part facing the toes of the user's foot, while the back corresponds to the rear of the boot, namely the part facing the heel of the user's foot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a tongue (16) incorporating one upper part (20) and one lower part (21). The upper part (20) is designed to be in contact with a tibial area and an area located opposite the talus of the user's foot, whereas the lower part (21) is intended to be in contact with a rear part above the user's foot. The lower (21) and upper (20) parts can be made of vinyl ethylene acetate, in the case of a non-injected tongue. As variants, the lower (21) and upper (20) parts can incorporate at least one internal pocket that permits the injection of a material designed to solidify so as to form an injected tongue. An injected tongue is preferably made of polyurethane. Furthermore, the lower (21) and upper (20) parts can be reinforced with reinforcing components—pieces of nylon, for example.

The upper extremity of the upper part (20) is endowed with a handle (30), to facilitate the positioning and the extraction of the tongue (16) when it is inserted in a slipper (10).

The tongue (16) can be inserted into an injected slipper (10) such as described with reference to FIG. 1. The slipper (10) in FIG. 1 incorporates a sole (11) with edges from which side panels (12 a, 12 b) and a tip (13) extend. The side panels (12 a, 12 b) are stitched together at the rear of the slipper (10).

At the front of the slipper (10), the side panels (12 a, 12 b) are stitched to the tip (13). The tip (13) is designed to surround the user's foot, from the metatarsophalangeal articulation until the ends of the toes. The side panels (12 a, 12 b) are designed to surround the rear of the foot, the heel and the bottom of the peroneal area.

Two injection pockets are incorporated into each side panel (12 a, 12 b). These injection pockets are connected to inlet (14) and outlet (15) pipes. The inlet pipes (14) are intended to inject the material, while the outlet pipes (15) are intended to extract the material present in the pockets when the pockets are completely full.

The tongue (16) is attached to the slipper (10) at one front extremity of the lower part (21), via a detachable connection system (17). As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the detachable connection system (17) can be a piece of fabric stitched to the lower extremity of the lower part (21). The lower face of the piece of fabric incorporates loops that are able to interoperate with hooks positioned on the bottom of the tip (13) of the slipper (10).

Other types of detachable connection system (17) are possible. For example, the lower extremity of the lower part (21) can be endowed with a loop, and the securing can be achieved with a stud attached to the tip of the boot that enters the loop. When the stud surrounds the loop, one extremity of the stud is connected to another part of the stud via a connection of hook-and-loop type, to ensure the connection of the tongue. As a variant, the tongue can also be attached to the side panels (12 a, 12 b) via one or more detachable connection systems (17).

Apart from the detachable connection system (17), the tongue (16) also has a heating element (25) connected to the lower extremity of the lower part (21). In FIGS. 2 and 3, the heating element (25) can be of all known forms. In the example in FIG. 3, the heating element (25) is directly connected to the lower extremity of the lower part (21) whereas, in FIG. 2, the heating element (25) is covered with a protective pocket.

In all cases, the heating element (25) is designed to be positioned within a slipper (10) between a tip (13) of the slipper (10) and the user's toes. The heating element (25) is able to heating the user's toes by emitting heat above the user's toes.

The heating element (25) can be positioned in contact with the tip (13) of the slipper (10) by action of the user, when he/she inserts his/her foot into the slipper (10). As a variant, the heating element (25) can incorporate a detachable connection system located on the heating element (25). For instance, the upper surface of the heating element (25) can incorporate loops designed to interoperate with hooks positioned on the lower face of the tip (13) of the slipper (10). The detachable connection system can also be used to connect the tongue (16) to the slipper (10) and can, therefore, replace the detachable connection system (17) in FIGS. 1 to 3.

When the heating element (25) is an electrical resistor, it is necessary to power the electrical resistor. To accomplish this, the upper part (20) of the tongue (16) can incorporate an electrical power storage system. Preferably, this power storage system is located on the exterior face of the tongue (16), in the tibial area, in order to reduce the inconvenience caused to the user by the presence of this power storage system.

As a variant, the power storage system can be external to the tongue (16). Preferably—as illustrated in FIG. 2—the tongue (16) incorporates a connector (26) positioned on an upper extremity of the tongue (16). This connector (26) is connected to the heating element (25) via a cable extending from the heating element (25) until the connector (26), passing via the lower (21) and upper (20) parts. A housing and a cover can be provided on the upper extremity of the upper part (20), to store the connector (26) when it is not in use.

Thus, the tongue (16) can be used in an injected slipper. As a variant, the detachable tongue (16) according to the invention can fit any type of slipper incorporating a detachable tongue—a thermo-molded slipper, for example.

The invention thus provides a heating system for a boot that incorporates a slipper with a detachable tongue. The invention can be adapted for multiple different slippers—an injected or thermo-molded slipper, for example.

The heating provided by the invention above the user's toes is very effective, and enhances the user's comfort. 

1. A detachable tongue for a slipper, the tongue comprising: an upper part configured to come into contact with a tibial area and an area located opposite the talus of the user's foot; a lower part configured to come into contact with a rear part of the top of the user's foot; and a detachable connection system that connects the tongue with the slipper, wherein the tongue also comprises a heating element connected to the lower part, and wherein the heating element is configured to extend between a tip of the boot and the user's toes.
 2. The detachable tongue of claim 1, wherein the detachable connection system is separate from the heating element and is connected to the lower part.
 3. The detachable tongue of claim 1, wherein the detachable connection system is connected to the heating element, so as to interoperate with a complementary connection system positioned under the tip of the slipper.
 4. The detachable tongue of claim 1, wherein the detachable connection system is a system of hook-and-loop type.
 5. The detachable tongue of claim 1, wherein the detachable tongue incorporates an energy storage system incorporated within the detachable tongue, within the said upper part.
 6. The detachable tongue of claim 1, wherein the detachable tongue incorporates a connector positioned above an upper extremity of the detachable tongue, and a power supply cable extending from the heating element to the connector, the power supply cable passing through the upper and lower parts.
 7. The detachable tongue of claim 1 wherein the tongue incorporates an internal pocket that allows the injection of a material configured to solidify.
 8. The detachable tongue of claim 1, wherein the tongue incorporates panels forming the upper and lower parts, with the panels being made of polyurethane or vinyl ethylene acetate.
 9. A slipper comprising: a sole with edges from which a tip and side panels extend, with the said side panels being stitched together at a rear part of the slipper and being stitched to the tip at a front part of the slipper; and the detachable tongue in accordance with claim 1, with the detachable tongue being connected to the slipper in a detachable manner.
 10. A boot incorporating a shell within which the slipper in accordance with claim 9 is positioned.
 11. The detachable tongue of claim 2, wherein the detachable connection system is configured to interoperate with a complementary connection system positioned above the tip of the slipper. 